Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Joanne Laban, who was substituted by Cllr Andy Milne.

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary, other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relating to items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest received regarding any item on the agenda.

To receive and agree the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 14 March 2023.

AGREED the minutes of the previous Environment & Climate Action Scrutiny Panelmeeting held on Tuesday 14 March 2023.

Updates on the actions of the previous meeting were reviewed.

To receive an update on Waste, to include:

-       Recycling;

-       Mandatory food waste segregation for businesses;

-       and Fly tipping.

Jon Sharkey, Head of Public Realm Services, introduced the recycling and mandatory food waste segregation for businesses elements of the item, highlighting the key aspects of the report.

The officer’s presentation to Members included information on: the services offered to residents, an update on the review of the ways in which the team communicate information with residents, recycling performance, government announcements/ regulation changes/updates, and the work being done on the delivery of a commercial food waste collection service.

Officers responded to Member’s questions and comments relating to engagement with Councillors. Officers advised that they had not yet consulted widely with Members on the changes that they were making, but that they would circulate an update on the work they had been doing in an all-councillor communication, in advance of the new/updated webpages going live. Officers agreed to send Members the information leaflet used to communicate to residents what they can/should be doing with the services they provide, and expressed that they had taken on board Members comments on communication from the previous meeting.

In response to Member’s queries regarding what items could be recycled, officers advised that they try as best they can to clarify what items can be recycled; the example of loose plastic bags was mentioned, and officers agreed to take this away to see how this could be better communicated going forwards. Officers said the clarification/guidance from the government about future arrangements/requirements was a positive. 

In response to Member’s queries regarding hard-to-reach groups and areas, officers advised that they looked at average data on a round by round/geographical basis, and tried to target their engagement at those areas performing less effectively.

In response to Member’s queries regarding Barrowell Green, officers advised that not wishing to turn people away and taking a relaxed line on bookings, had created some issues. It was expressed that they were now trying to reinforce the message about the slot-based system/appointments, as a means of: discouraging traders, getting useful data, and managing traffic. Cllr Jewell added that the service/facility was easy to book, that it was difficult to turn people around once in the que, that staff were using common sense by allowing people without bookings in, but that the team wanted to reinforce the booking message in order to alleviate some of the issues being experienced.

In response to Member’s queries regarding communication with residents, officers advised that updates to the webpages were coming which would make finding information about the services provided easier, that workshops would be taking in libraries to get feedback on the changes, and that suggestion boxes was something further that they could look at using. Officers advised that conversations with the communications team were taking place about the wider use and variety of social media platforms as a way of increasing accessibility to information.

In response to Member’s queries regarding the generation of waste, officers advised that they were engaged with and feeding into conversations and consultations with various groups and government organisations relating to waste reforms.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To note the Environment & Climate Action Work Programme for 2023/24.

Members noted and agreed the Environment & Climate Action Scrutiny Panel Work Programme for 2023/24.

To note the dates of the future meetings as follows:

Monday 22^nd January 2024

Tuesday 12^th March 2024

And an additional date to be agreed by the Panel.

Members noted the dates of future meetings as set out in the report/agenda pack.

Members asked that the Governance Officer find/provide a potential date for their additional meeting, for Panel to agree over/via email. 

The Chair thanked everyone for their time/contributions, and the meeting ended at 20:37.